Grandpa's Hot Sauce
By Stephen Brandon
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Stephen Brandon
Linda opened the screen door and said, "Good morning Rick, Jane."
"Morning Alice, what brings you over this early?", as she set her coffee on the counter. "Want some coffee?"
Linda sat down across from Rick and asked, "Did you see the news last night? Looks like after the earthquake up north and the rail accident out west, hot sauce is going to be in short supply this year. Is your father making any this year?"
"I don't know, he has't bought any crocks yet." Jane poured coffee in a mug and said, "Why don't you take him up some coffee and ask?"
Jonah was sitting on the side of his bed in a slice of sunlight when Alice walked in with his coffee and asked, "Are you making hot sauce this year? I'll need three bottles."
"Only if you'll drive me to Kentucky so I can pick up my secret ingredients." as Jonah reached for his coffee mug. "A few cases will supply me all next year."
Alice looked at him sipping his coffee and stated, "You old goat, you know what the doctor said about your drinking."
Jonah chucked as he said, "Can't make the hot sauce without it. Can we leave tomorrow? And call your friend in Nogales and tell her to get me about a dozen of them five gallon clay pots fired up, we'll get them when we get back from Kentucky."
* * *
Jonah hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, "Wait a minute Alice, I've got to order some bottles before we leave."
"Good morning," Ajax glass-works. "This is Nancy."
"Hi Nancy, I need sixty five cases of my special bottles."
"Is that you Jonah?"
"Yup!"
Nancy repied, "Only if you'll ship me a case of hot sauce. You going to give me a discount?"
"Of course, don't I always." replied Jonah.
"Well better make it seventy cases. Seems like everyone wants some of the sauce this year."
"I'll even throw in the wire cap holders for free." replied Nancy, "They'll be there in six weeks. That will be $740.60 and we'll cover the shipping. Bye for now."
* * *
As Jonah opened the shed door he said, "Alice, you're going to have to help grind the peppers again this year. I hope twenty five bushel will be enough. I hate having to use those dried peppers, but unless Jane can find me some more, I'll have to go use some of them too."
Looking over her list Alice asked, "Do we have enough apple cider vinegar?"
"No get five more cases. Can your friend at the farmers market get more peppers."
"He said that he'd send Jimmy over to help for a case of hot sauce. He wants to sell some at his roadside stand next spring."
"Tell him OK. Next thing you know I'll have to build another shed just to keep up with giveaways." sighed Jonah.
* * *
"Now Jimmy, remember to wear those goggles and mask while grinding those peppers. That's a new mortar, so throw away the first batch you grind. Then dump each batch in one of those crocks and replace the lids. Alice, give him a pair of those rubber gloves. Can't have his hands burning for a month."
Jonah turned at the sound of footsteps on the gravel drive, "Hi, Betty."
"Jonah, I brought a dozen extra crocks with lids. Alice told me that I could trade them for cases of hot sauce."
"I ain't got enough peppers to fill them." quipped Jonah. "Can you get me a few bushels."
Smiling Betty replied, "I know several gardeners that grow lots of peppers back home. They'll probably want a case per bushel."
With his most pained expression Jonah replied, "Six bottles per bushel is all I can afford."
Fluffing her hair, Betty replied, "I'll be back next Monday with them."
"Plan on staying for a few days Betty, you're going to help if I have to make that much."
"Good morning, Ajax glass-works. This is Nancy."
"Hi, me again."
"Hi Jonah, the bottles will be ready to ship next week."
"Betty, I have a small problem."
Softly Betty said, "What can I do to help?"
"Well, I kinda need another seven cases of bottles this year."
After a moment Betty came back to the phone and said, "The boss says that we can get them to you in three weeks if you'll ship him a case of hot sauce back. He also added something to the bottles that you'll like."
"Dag-it, what did he change?"
"Now Jonah, it will make them a collectors item. You'll see."
"The way things are going here, I'll be lucky if I get a few bottles out of this batch."
* * *
"Jonah, there's a truck out front and the guy wants to know where you want these pallets of bottles."
"Jane, just tell him to bring them around back and stack them by the shed."
As soon and the trucker was gone Jonah pulled his knife and cut one box open. "All every one heard was, That's pretty fancy! Jane, Alice, Jimmy, come look at these new bottles. They got raised letters saying Grandpa's Hot Sauce with a year on the side."
* * *
Exasperated Jonah said, "Jimmy, don't fill those bottles all the way to the top, just to where the neck starts. And let them set for awhile before you cap them. They got to breath. And be careful with that glass funnel and scoop! They're hard to replace."
* * *
As Jonah folded the top of the last box down he said, "Jimmy, I know you worked you butt off so here is the case for your Dad and a case just for you. Tell him that it looks like I may have an extra case or two if he wants to sell them for me.
"Alice, here's two for you. Also call Betty and tell her to stop by."
Everyone turned at the crunch of gavel and the "Hello, Hello, Is Jonah here?"
"Yes ma'am, I'm Jonah."
"I'm Nancy from Ajax glass-works. My boss sent me down to see you and ask how you liked the redesigned bottles."
"That's a long drive just to ask a question, isn't it?" stated Jonah.
Smiling, Nancy said, "Yes, but he also wanted a favor."
"What is it?" Jonah replied.
With a small frown Nancy said, "Well, last year he kept stealing my hot sauce, and he promised if I could get him an extra case or two he would't this year. I've got a few cases of empty bottles in my car if you'd like them."
With a shrug Jonah said, "Jimmy, go help the lady unload her car while I set up the table."
# # #
After 3 reviews I reread my story. After thinking about it, I rewrote the story again.
Also one review asked what Hot Sauce was. The simplest answer to that that I can think of is by telling what the main ingredients are, hot peppers with the seeds ground to a paste and mixed with vinegar and water plus a few other 'secret' ingredients. A few drops of the mixture will spice up any food you put it on. To much and your mouth will feel like it is on fire.